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Global Propagation Monitor

C-BAND / OPTICAL BANDWIDTHLATENCY SOLVER V4.1
Reference Constant
c = 299,792 km/s
Theoretical Minimum RTT
57.46ms
One-Way Delay
27.731 ms
Medium Velocity
200.9 Mm/s
Signal Flight Visualization
MODE: TERRESTRIAL
SOURCEDEST

Engineering Protocol

Round-Trip Time (RTT) is the ultimate physical limit for network interactivity. Even with perfect routing, the speed of light in fiber (~200,000 km/s) dictates a minimum latency of ~5ms per 1,000km.

RTTmin=2×distancec×Vf+ϵRTT_{min} = 2 \times \frac{distance}{c \times V_f} + \epsilon

FIELD ADVISORY #RTT-01

"When measuring Transatlantic links, remember that the physical cable path follows the continental shelf, often adding 15-20% more distance than the great-circle (aerial) route. Always add 2-5ms of 'buffer' for switching fabric delay."

Partner in Accuracy

"You are our partner in accuracy. If you spot a discrepancy in calculations, a technical typo, or have a field insight to share, don't hesitate to reach out. Your expertise helps us maintain the highest standards of reliability."

Contributors are acknowledged in our technical updates.

Understanding Propagation Delay

The Use Case: Global Link Planning

When designing a Wide Area Network (WAN) or a subsea cable route between continents, engineers are limited by the physical speed of light. If a client asks why latency between New York and London is 60ms and not 5ms, the answer isn't just "slow routers"—it's the speed of light in glass.

This tool helps maintenance engineers differentiate between Physical Latency (which cannot be improved) and Equipment Latency (which can be optimized via better hardware).

Scientific Credibility & Standards

Signal propagation in modern networks is governed by the refractive indices of materials. Our calculator uses the following standards:

  • ITU-T G.652: Characteristics of single-mode optical fiber.
  • IEEE 802.3: Ethernet standards for signal timing in copper.
  • RFC 2681: A Round-trip Delay Metric for IP Performance Metrics (IPPM).

Technical Standards & References

REF [G.652]
ITU-T (2016)
Transmission characteristics of a single-mode optical fibre and cable
“Standard reference for refractive index (IOR) in telecommunications fiber.”
VIEW OFFICIAL SOURCE
REF [RFC2681]
G. Almes, S. Kalidindi, M. Zekauskas (1999)
A Round-trip Delay Metric for IPPM
“Defines the fundamental measurement methodology for RTT in packet-switched networks.”
VIEW OFFICIAL SOURCE
REF [IEEE-802.3]
IEEE (2022)
Carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) access method and physical layer specifications
“Defines timing constraints and propagation expectations for Ethernet physical media.”
Mathematical models derived from standard engineering protocols. Not for human safety critical systems without redundant validation.

Related Engineering Resources

Partner in Accuracy

"You are our partner in accuracy. If you spot a discrepancy in calculations, a technical typo, or have a field insight to share, don't hesitate to reach out. Your expertise helps us maintain the highest standards of reliability."

Contributors are acknowledged in our technical updates.